Buckle.



No. 650,463. v Patented May 29, I900.

C. R. HORNE.

BUCKLE.

IApplicatiun filed Feb. 23, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcs.

CARL R. HORNE, OF WILLIAMSBU'RG, KANSAS.

BUCKLE.

srn'crrrca'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,463, dated May 29, 1900.

Application filed February 23, 1900. Serial No. 6,285. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL R. HORNE, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Williamsbnrg, in the county of Franklin and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bnckles,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles and aims to provide a convenient and serviceable buckle for use in connection with harnesses or for general purposes, the special feature of my invention consisting in a longitudinal pivoted arm carryinga tongue rigidly secured thereon and adapted to pass directly through holes in the strap and not obliquely, as is ordinarily the case, said strap passing between bars of the frame and said tongue engaging the strap between said bars and having a supporting-bearing against one of them, means being also provided for conveniently disengaging the spring-arm and tongue from the strap.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation,partl.y in section,of the buckle attached to a strap. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same with portions of the strap broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan View, on a larger scale, of one end of the buckle, it being the left-hand end, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same end of the buckle. Fig. 5 is a perspective view.

The body of the buckle consists, essentially,of two substantially-rectangular frames 1 2, preferably of round metal rod or wire, disposed one over the other and rigidly united by connecting bars or posts 3 4 5 6. Said frames are of about the same size; but the upper one 1 projects somewhat over the lower one 2 at the rear end or the end to which the strap 7 is permanently attached, while the lower frame 2 projects beyond the upper one 1 at the front end, by which is meant the end to which the loose end of the strap 8 is adj nstably attached. Said frames 1 2 are also not parallel with each other, the front end posts 3 4being preferably longer than the rear end posts 5 6. The two sides of the lower frame 2 are rigidly connected near the front end by a cross-plate 9, and to the front end bar 10 of the lower frame is attached a rotatable loop 11. The front end bar 12 of the upper frame is provided with a central curved offset 13,

and near said end bar 12 said upper frame 1 is provided with a downwardly-curved cross bar 14, which engages the sides of said frame 1 iminediatelyin front of the posts 3 4. The rear end bar 15 of the lower frame 2 is en gaged by the strap '7 and alsohas pivoted to it centrally a tongue-carrier 16, which projects forward to the front end of the buckle,

passes under the cross-bar 14 and end bar 12 of the upper frame, and terminates in a trans verse cross-head 17, preferably having its ends curved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. Ata point on said tongue-carrier 16 immediately below the front end bar 12 and adjacent to the ofiset 13 therein is fixed an upwardlyprojecting tongue 18, pointed at its upper end and of suificient length to pass through the strap 8 and bear against the end bar 12 within the recess formed by the offset 13. The strap 8, when attached to the buckle, passes over the cross-head 17, under the end bar 12, and over the cross-rod 14, and the tongue 18 engages the holes in the strap between said end bar and cross-rod, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A spring 19 is interposed between the tongue-carrier 16 and the cross-plate 9 of the lower frame, the stress of said spring tending to force the tongue-carrier 16 and tongue 18 upward against the end bar 12 and crossbar 14 or into engagement with the strap 8 when the latter is in position. The bearing of the tongue 18 against the end bar 12 furnishes a partial support for the tongue, aiding it in resisting the tension of the strap 8, and seating said tongue within the recess of oflset 13 enables it to resist lateral tension, tending to throw it and the carrier 16 out of line longitudinally.

The cross=head 17 furnishes a support for the strap 8 when in position and also a convenient means for disengaging the tongue from the strap when it is desired to release the latter from the buckle, for which pur= pose downward pressure may be applied to 'one end or both ends of the cross-head 17, which project laterally beyond the strap. The rear end bar 20 of the upper frame furnishes the usual tuck for the loose end of the strap 8. The loop 11 at the front end. of the Icio lower frame is designed for the attachment of one end of the strap when the buckle is used in connection with a halter, hitchingst-rap, or for other like purpose when a loop in the strap is desired. The cross-rod 14 serves the purpose of supporting-strap 8, so that when tonguelS is depressed to release the strap from the buckle the strap will be held up and the tongue readily withdrawn from it.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A buckle comprising an upper and lower frame,-posts rigidly connecting'said frames,

a cross-rod connecting the sides of the upper frame near the front end bar thereof, a tonguecarrier pivoted to the rear end bar of the lower frame and projecting forwardly under and beyond the front end bar of the upper frame,a tongue fixed on said carrier and norm ally projecting upward between said front end bar and said cross rod, and a spring bearing against said carrier and tending to force it upward toward said end bar, substantially as set forth.

2. A buckle comprising an upper and lower frame, posts rigidly connecting said frames, a cross-rod connecting the sides of the upper frame near the front end bar thereof, a curved offset formed centrally in said front end bar, a tongue-carrier pivoted to the rear end bar of the lower frame, and projecting forwardly nnderand beyond said front end bar, a tongue fixed on said carrier and norinallyprojecting upward between said front end bar and said cross-rod, and into the recess formed by said curved offset, and a spring bearing against said carrier and tending to force it upward toward said front end bar, substantially as set forth.

3. A buckle comprising an upper and lower frame, posts rigidly connecting said frames, a cross-rod connecting the sides of the upper frame near the front end bar thereof, a tonguecarrier pivoted to the rear end bar of the lower frame and projecting forwardly under and be yond the front end bar of the upper frame, a cross-head on the front end of said carrier, a tongue fixed on said carrier and normally projecting upward between said front end bar and said cross-rod, and a spring bearing against said carrierand tending to force it upward toward said front end bar, substantially as set forth.

4:. A'buckle comprising an upper and lower frame, posts rigidly connecting said frames, a cross-rod connecting the sides of the upper frame near the front end bar thereof, a curved offset formed centrallyin said front end bar, a tongue-carrier pivoted to the rear end bar of the lower frame, and projecting forwardly under and beyond said front end bar, a cross head on the front end of said carrier, a ton guo fixed on said carrier and normally projecting upward between said front end bar and said cross-rod, and into the recess formed by said curved offset, and a spring bearing against said carrier and tending to force it upward toward said front end bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL R. HORNE. \Vitnesses:

O. M. Kosron,

M. II. SHERMAN. 

